With lobster fishermen in Nova Scotia reporting catches this season are down the provinces Liberal party is calling for increased enforcement from DFO and for the Houston government to follow through on its promise to increase fines for out-of-season fishing.
Early indications show catches have plummeted by as much as 75 percent offshore, and 30 percent in-shore marking the most significant decline in the industry in a quarter-century.
Fishers in the region are anxiously awaiting action from the provincial government in Halifax, which pledged to escalate fines for illegal fishing activities from $100,000 to $1 million. The delay in implementing these measures is causing growing concerns within the industry, as without a robust increase in both federal and provincial enforcement, the fishing sector is poised to endure further challenges.
“The lobster fishery is the lifeblood of our economy and demands protection,” emphasized Opposition Leader Zach Churchill. “We’ve consistently urged the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) and the provincial government to bolster the presence of enforcement officers on the ground to thwart the unlawful poaching of lobster. The province must promptly elevate the fine for illegal catches from $100,000 to $1 million, and wrongdoers should also face the revocation of their licenses.”
According to local reports, the decline in lobster catches is having a profound impact on the livelihoods of many fishers and the communities they support.
